The main plaza is bustling with activity just like before. I keep bumping into people as I look around with an empty gaze. The mythical scenery displayed right in front of me would make my jaw drop in any other circumstance. Right now, I can only think about one thing.

I need to escape from this dimension. The two sisters tricked me and effectively left me stranded in this unknown place full of supernatural beings. Don't get me wrong. I'm not about to mope around and lament about my situation. That would give too much joy to those soulless bitches that put me in this situation. Instead, I focus on what I need to do to escape from this place. The main objective is to learn to use the Gates. From what I can tell, the magical world is eerily similar to the modern world. So I'm bound to find a tutorial with the help of Crystal Ball, the magical rip-off of Alexa.

Using the Gate in itself is not going to be too hard. The card needed to use it is going to be the main issue. I don't have a single Credit to my name, and my encounter with the purple cloud taught me that language is going to be a problem too. I can't help but sigh. If only everyone conveniently spoke English.

I think I'm going to go file a formal complaint; it seems I didn't receive my standard Isekai MC package. Where's my instant universal translation? I technically traveled to another dimension, so that must count for something, right?

***Universal Language Adapter Recommended! ***

A notification appears at the corner of my vision, but I ignore it. I bet the expensive app will not come with any language pre-installed, and I will have to buy each one individually. Instead, let's see what the magical world has to offer. If a place like the DimShop exists, then there must be some sort of universal translator to make trading easier. I ask the Crystal Ball, which gives me a positive answer.

A grin creeps on my face as I see the myriad of options I have. Some of them are even free! Take that, you scamming system!

Having won over the horrible practices of MERTICORE reinvigorate me. My search reveals that there are two types of universal translators; the dedicated devices and Terminal apps. I can't afford even the shittiest dedicated universal translator, so I have to use an app. I find a recent comparison website- Can I call them websites? It's technically not the Internet, but- I shrug, who cares. Websites work for now. So, I check the site and see that there are a lot of free apps. I'm not disappointed, there seem to be very decent ones out there.

Of course, it's not as good as a dedicated device or even a paid app. But I'm a Credit-less hobo so I can't be too picky. I click on the link provided by the site, and the app store opens. As usual, I don't read any of the terms and conditions and accept every permission needed. On second thought, maybe I should have read the prompt. I often joked that there could be a hidden clause in the terms and services that would effectively sell your soul to the Devil, but now it might be true.

I take a deep breath. I'm not melting, and there hasn't been any ominous thunder. Furthermore, MERTICORE hasn't warned me, so I should be fine. Right? I feign a chuckle as I launch the app. The interface is pretty simple. There's only a big blue button in the middle of the screen. I press it, and the Terminal starts to hum before the ambient noise changes around me. The surrounding cacophony is soon replaced by actual conversations! Inane and boring conversations, but conversations nonetheless.

I walk past what is a group of sentient floating sticks having an animated discussion about some weirdly-named game while sporting a massive grin. This translator changes everything. It also takes the element of wonder out of the experience; most of those extraordinary-looking creatures are only here for mundane reasons, like picking up a carton of their equivalent of milk. Nobody here is on a grand quest to slay an ancient evil, or even save the world from imminent destruction.

My mind has been corrupted by novels, hasn't it? I need to understand that the magical world is not full of adventures, just like the real world. It's more or less the same. But with more fireballs and psychotic mages.

Who am I kidding? I can't help but be amazed by everything I see despite my dire situation. For crying out loud, someone is selling drinks that are swirling with all the colors of the rainbow right next to me! I need to contain my excitement. My main objective is still to find a way to leave this place, but being able to understand the people here took out a lot of the apprehension I had. In the end, these creatures and people are the average Joe of the magical world. Granted, they must have magical capabilities of some sort, but will it be on the level of the two psychos?

I sincerely doubt it. After all, not everyone on Earth is carrying a rocket launcher in their pockets. So the situation must be somewhat similar here. That makes my idea of robbing people much more viable, even if it will be risky. I'm only stealing what amounts to a bus ticket, so the consequences shouldn't be too serious if I'm caught.

But what if this place is one of those societies where every crime is punished by the death penalty? Like that one Star Trek episode? Fuck me, that put a damper on my enthusiasm. Maybe highway robbery isn't my calling; I should try a more subtle approach.

I could always go through legitimate channels and buy a card for myself, but my lack of Credits is the final nail in the coffin for that particular project. A glance at the eclectic crowd makes me wonder; what could I possibly do here to earn- A sign catches my attention. I haven't noticed before, but the app I installed on my Terminal is also able to translate written text. The large yellow sign is hanging on the facade of a building that has seen better days. While the bar I visited beforehand chose this as a deliberate aesthetic, this one looks like it is an ancient ruin about to collapse.

But the sign looks fresh enough. I think I can even spot a few areas where the paint hasn't dried yet. The sign reads 'Now Hiring Breach Divers! Make Credits Quickly!'. Don't get me wrong; that sounds like a massive scam. But I don't have a choice. Of course, I check what a Breach Diver is with the Crystal Ball before making any final decision. I don't want to find myself forced to clean sewers full of magical half-sentient poops.

I raise an eyebrow at the first entry. I landed on something akin to Wikipedia. So, a Breach Diver is someone who ventures into the half-formed dimensions that exist at the borders of real dimensions. They aren't real ones and have a short life-cycle, but interesting materials from 'real' dimensions end up in those 'Breaches.'

To put it simply, I'm going to go through the dimensional equivalent of a trashcan to gather salvage.

The rest of the article also mentions that there could be inhabitants of those Breaches. Usually, they are highly aggressive abomination made of a mix of waste organic materials and stray supernatural energy. I can't help but blink a few times; doesn't that sound exactly like a dungeon?

I shrug. If I have to kill twenty Goblins to earn the Credits I need to get out of this place, then so be it. I push open the door, and a pungent smell of wet dogs immediately assaults my nostrils. I look around, but there's not a canine in sight. There's only a shabby reception desk in front of a wooden door, and a couple of cheap plastic chairs lined up against a wall.

"Did I hear correctly, did the door just open?" a female voice coming from behind the reception desk asks.

"Go check it out!" another voice says, "It's your turn to be the receptionist!"

"But what if it is another drunk hobo? I'm sick of kicking them out!" the first voice argues, "Why doesn't he do it?"

"You know why! Now go, imagine if it's someone who wants to join our glorious team!" the second voice chimes in.

Okay, I see how it is. I'll just walk out and-

"Hello! Welcome!" the door slams open, and I flinch. Shit, I should have escaped when I got the chance!

I turn around, "Hi, I saw the sign and-" I take a deep breath, something tells me that I'm going to regret ever entering that place. The woman who slammed the door open is quite small, about 165 centimeters in height. Her messy brown hair and round glasses coupled with her used cyan sweater and jeans don't show that she's supposedly fighting cosmic horrors on the regular.

"Are you here for the position?" she asks with such expectant eyes that I freeze on the spot. What am I supposed to say in such a situation? I indeed wanted to earn a couple of quick Credits, but this place seems- A bit shit is the best way to put it.

"Yes, I am, but-" I'm once again interrupted. This time, it's from what I assume is an ecstatic screech from the badly dressed woman. Or maybe she's turning into a banshee. I don't know.

"WE GOT SOMEONE!" she screams into the room.

"Holy shit! For real? Let me see!" a high-pitched voice shouts as I hear shuffling.

It doesn't take long for another smaller woman to emerge. This one has long and straight black hair. Her almond-shaped eyes and the katana at her side shows that she's probably Japanese. Otherwise, her appearance is- I guess I should have expected someone like her sooner or later. She's wearing long black leather boots and a black goth lolita dress that's somehow fluttering despite the complete lack of wind in the building. Her eyes are purple. I do not doubt that she's wearing contacts; her bandaged left arm confirms my suspicions.

This person is a total chuuni.

"It is I, Yoshiko Hirai! The cursed leader of this Alpha Team!" she shouts as she crosses her arms and slightly raises her head.

...Would it be rude if I just walked away without a word? I am almost expecting giant black characters to appear above her with dramatic sound effects.

"This is Avryl Hobbs, our mad scientist, and purveyor of ancient technology!" Yoshiko gestures towards Avryl, the glass-wearing woman, who looks like she's ready to die from embarrassment.

"And this is Sword." She points at the giant standing behind her. The two-meters tall man, aptly named after the massive weapon hanging at his side, just grunts in acknowledgment. He would be the perfect illustration of 'barbarian.' His bald head and chiseled features coupled with his massive muscular body would make even the most cautious of monsters think twice before attacking. His brown eyes stare at me like he's ready to pounce and beat me to a pulp. I can't help but adjust my hand to make it easier to draw my pistol, just in case something happens. Just looking at him makes me nervous.

"Now, please give us your ancestral name, recruit! So that it can be engraved in the records of history forever!" Yoshiko raises her hands towards the ceiling and starts to laugh maniacally.

"D-Don't I have to go through an interview or something?" I ask Avryl, who glances at Yoshiko before sighing.

"No, not really. There's only us three, so anyone is welcome to join as long as Yoshiko doesn't feel anything bad from them." She replies. I can't help but raise an eyebrow, is she for real? Don't tell me that she believes the delusions of the katana-wielder.

"I don't want to sound like an ass, but-" Avryl looks at me and sighs again.

"Yes, she has actual powers despite- Well despite everything." Her monotone reply tells me that she said that exact sentence far too many times to count.

"Oh, okay," I nod. I don't believe Avryl. But what other choice do I have? Nobody else would hire some random guy that just happened to pass by, so I have to take what I can. And something tells me that the heavy lifting is probably done by Sword anyway.

"So- Uhm, I'm Ian Jones. Former IT Consultant, nice to meet you all." I say tentatively.

"Welcome, Ian Jones! The Gunner who has been forsaken by Fate! This Demon Slayer gladly accepts your request to be a part of her party!" Yoshiko slams her foot, and a pentagram made of fire appears above her head before vanishing into a cloud of black smoke.

"Is she actually-" I turn towards Avryl, whose face is buried in her hands. She nods, and I can't help but sigh as well.

Somehow, it feels like I haven't made a single good decision ever since I got MERTICORE.

And things are about to get even worse.